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Looking to swap my current 9spd X9 shifters to the 10sp X9.
Just wondered how life with these shifters is and if there are any problems with them? Keen to know if SRAM have fixed the sticking thumb lever issue, which the 9spd shifters are notorious for.
strike. how to put this... I was a long term X9 9-speed user. Had a few issues but generally got on very well with them. When I got my new bike (Cove G-Spot, changed from Cove Hustler), I changed from X9 9-speed to X9 10-speed. I had nothing but hassles. The 1st mech lost tension after a couple of weeks. The matchmakers snapped. The 2nd mech bent a few times and finally jumped into my spokes on a fast corner and caused a very nasty (and embarassing) crash. I went to 10-speed XT and lasted a whole season of biking without adjusting anything once. I ripped the mech off three times and it's still perfectly true and running sweet.
I just couldn't advise anyone to go for the X9 10-speed stuff. Especially in light of how well the XT has worked for me. I'm sure other people have had different experiences but that is my experience and I wasn't prepared to buy a 3rd X9 to see if I had just been unlucky with the previous 2.
I wrote a bit of a rant / review here if you would like to read it: [url= http://www.basquemtb.com/long-term-review-sram-x9-10-speed-and-matchmakers/ ]BasqueMTB: Long Term Review of Sram X9, 10-speed. [/url]
Thanks doug! I had previously read your write-up (thanks). As I recall, you never had issues with the actual shifters though, did you? I'd be using X0 mechs, which seem to stand the test of time well.
The shifters on the 10-speed were the only thing that was fine. But that's a bit like buying a car with a shagged engine and saying that they tyres didn't wear out 🙂
On the 9-speed I had a few issues but the great thing with the old 9-speed was that you could open them up, clean and oil them and they worked great after that. I think that the new ones don't come apart so easily.
Anyway, I've obviously had really bad experience with them... I'll let someone with good experience strike the balance now.
This is a copy & paste from a post I made yesterday about the same subjet:
I've always been a firm supporter of the SRAM 9spd stuff, I just like the way the shifters feel & work, the later ones with the metal thumb levers were great.However, the SRAM 10spd stuff is a bit of a step backwards IMO
I've been running X9 10spd for a year or so, and i'm completely non plussed by it. The levers are very cheap & 'plasticy'. There is a whole lot of play in the lower up shifter & it all just feels a bit cheap.
Having said that however, it does work, and without fault. Mine has been abused something rotton, my rear mech looks wrecked, and has had a mad Frenchman smash it off my mech hanger at the Mega, and into the wheel, yet it survived, and still keeps shifting as expected.
If only the shifters were a bit better, I looked at the X0's as an option to upgrade, but they were just the same
Not sure how long term you want but I've had a fault-free 6 months with mine. Regular wet weather riding in Scotland, a weeks trip to French Alps, and general abuse have not caused any issues...
Soooo, I'd recommend them!
As MussEd - had mine since May and they have been faultless ridden for long rides and short blasts. All weathers. No problems at all.
Seven months riding two full X9 setups, one set over three bikes and only fault is paint peeling off the rear mech. No play, no hassles.